Key points
- Prior to the 1970s, burial was the accepted disposal method for disposing of chemical weapons and other chemical agent materials.
- Many of these weapons were also disposed of at sea.
- Continue reading to find out more.
Brief History
Chemical agents and munitions were tested and disposed of on military installations. Like with other wastes, burial was the accepted disposal method up until the 1970s. This practice has left buried munitions at some military and former military installations. From 1967 to 1970, thousands of tons of chemical agents and munitions were loaded onto old ships and sunk at sea. This program was called Operation Cut Holes and Sink 'EM (CHASE).
In 1997, the United States ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention, mandating destruction of
- Stockpiled chemical weapons
- Former chemical agent production facilities
- Recovered chemical weapons
- Other chemical agent material
The stockpiled chemical weapons and former chemical agent production facilities have been destroyed. However, some munitions and other chemical agent material remain, both at sea and buried on land.
Where Chemical Weapons and Other Materials Can Be Found
Discarded chemical weapons have been found in unlikely places:
- In Delaware, an artillery shell was found in a driveway paved with crushed clamshells.
- In New York, commercial fishermen found chemical munitions while dredging for clams off the coast of Long Island. Two fishermen were treated at a local hospital. Fortunately, their nurse was trained to recognize chemical agent symptoms.
- In the District of Columbia, chemical agents were found buried on the property of private residences during excavation.
What To Do If You Find Chemical Weapons or Materials
If you see a suspicious object on land,
If you find a suspicious object at sea, try not to bring it aboard.
If you think you have been exposed to chemical agent, go to the hospital.
What Happens After Chemical Weapons or Materials Are Found
When possible chemical weapons or other material are found, the Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate responds to assess for chemical agent. If the item contains chemical agent, it plans for the destruction and disposal of the item.
If the item is chemical agent material, CDC is notified and reviews the transportation and disposal plans. These reviews for public health and safety typically include onsite inspections and review of air monitoring capabilities.